Born in Kristianstad, Bo Michanek made ten animated short films in the 1970s, of which some were broadcasted by Sveriges Radio-TV. He also published his first comic stories in magazines like Kristianstadsbladet and Jättestarlet. A stint at the Disney animation studios didn't turn out successful, so he focused on comic books instead. He has done illustrations and covers for Swedish Disney comic books published by Hemmets Journal AB since 1978. He worked on the publisher's studio in Malmö until 1983, and continued to do occasional contributions afterwards. Michanek was involved in the logo design for Disney magazines like Nalle Puh (1981), Musse Pigg & C:o (1985) and Kalle Ankas Pocket (1988).
Michanek had tried to work on the popular Swedish comic 'Bamse' in the 1970s, but it wasn't until 1983 that he succeeded the Spanish artist Francisco Tora on the strip. Michanek illustrated a great many 'Bamse' stories scripted by the strip's creator Rune Andréasson until 1990. When the strip became a magazine published by Gutenberghus/Egmont in the 1990s, Michanek was active as a scriptwriter, art corrector and illustrator. He illustrated his final 'Bamse' story in 1999. Bo Michanek has also worked on as an advertising artist. After his retirement from 'Bamse', he has desinged a series of 'Love-Bears' postcards.
